Steam-shovel mechanism.



O. F. HIIIKLEY.

STEAM SHOVBL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZBE 1912.

Patented Mar.18,191 3.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

LVVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

A TTO'RNEY.

- P. HINKLEY.

' STEAM SHOVEL MECHANISM.

.,PPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1912.

Patented Max:118, 1913.

vz SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I LVVE/VTOR: 6W?

JVITNES Z/ @Qdw A TTORINEY.

CHARLES E. HINKLEY, MOUNT IRON, MINNESOTA.

Specification or. Letters Patent. Application filed. May 23, 1912. Serial no. 699,157.

Patented Mar. 1s, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1-, CHARLES F. HmKLEY, a-citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Iron, in the county" of-St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and, useful Steam-Shovel Mechanism,. of-

which the following isj .-a--'specification, reference being had to; the aizbompanying drawings and to the letters" Yd-figures of referenoe marked thereon.

This invention relates to the type of steam shovel-thathas a swinging crane or boom carrying a shovel or scoop, there being a platform or car and engines thereon for operating the crane or boom and the shovel or scoop, and a hoisting chain connected to the shovel. or scoop and running over the crane or boom and vertically through the pivotal axis of the crane or boom and connected with one ofthe engine's. In said type of steam shovel an auxiliary engine is mounted on the crane or boom for assisting incontroL' ling the shovel or scoop, it being understood that a convenient position is occupiediby an engineer who controls all the movements of the machinery, in some cases, however, an

. assistant being required on the crane or boom 1v and simplify the construction of apparatus for operating the auxiliary engine.

The present invention has reference more particularly to improved mechanism' designed to enable the engineer who controls the main engines to also operate the auxiliary engine and to control the discharging operations of the shovel or scoop.

An object of the invention is to improve of the character described and claimed in Letters Patent No. 901,101, granted to me on October 13, 1908, for enabling one engineer to control, from one position, all the movements of'the shovel machinery.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the above mentioned character which shall be so conl to structed as to be reliable, durable and economical in use under the various severe con-- ditions of operation.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention comprises mechanism extending from the position of the engineer on the platform to the auxiliary engine on the crane or boom for starting and for controlling the operation of ,the auxilliary engine, the mechanism being adapted to accommodate itself to the swinging movement ofthe crane or boom.

The invention comprises also improvements in means forreleasing the bottom of the shovel for discharging .the load, said means being adapted to be under the control of the engineer at his station and adapted to accommodate itself to the motions of the crane and the shovel. And the invention consists further in the novel parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a steam shovel wit the engine house thereof in section and having the impro'vements applied thereto; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the principal parts of the improved, auxiliar engine controller; Fig. 3, a i

tially broken away; Fig. '4, a central sectional view of the power cylinderfor releasing the latch ofthe shovel bottom; Fig. 5, a

fragmentary xsedtional view-of the shovel- Pl n 0 Fig. 2. parshowing the latohjof the bottom. thereof;

Fig. 6, a top plan of the machinewith the engine house in section below the roof thereof; Fig. 7, a fragmentary topplan of'parts of the auxiliary enginecontroller, Fig. 8, a

fragmentary, sectionahelevation ,on an enlarged scale showmg-themechanism more clearly as applied tothe auxiliary engine and showing also the improved apparatus for releasing the latch of the shovel bottom, and Fig. 9, a agmentary sectional view on the plane of the line A A in Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters in the different figures ofthe drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to. A steam shovelof the character to which the present invention is especially adaptable having been 1fully described in said Letters Patent No. 901,101, a brief reference only is herein made to the well known features of construction thereof.

As usually constructed the steam shovel of the above mentioned character comprises a platform-l on which are two side walls 2 and 2 provided with a'roof 3 to constitute an engine house, the platform extending be.- yond one end of the house and being usually carried on a suitable number of pairs of wheels 4. Theend portion of the platform pivot-ally supports a turn-table 5 adJacent to an A-frame' comprising two members 6 and 6 connected together at their trips and constituti'ng a 'mast for the crane being suppinion 12 secured toa shaft 13, that is ,mounted on the jib, the shaft having a g ar wheel 14 secured thereto that is driven by pinion 15 secured to the main shaft 16 of the auxiliary engine 17 which is mounted on the jib, the engine having a steam chest 18 in which is a suitable valve for starting, stopping, or reversing the engine, as is well known. A guide pulley 19 is mounted on the jib above the central opening in the turn-table. The arm 10 carries a shovel.

pressed latch 22 adapted to engage a atch plate 23 secured to the shovel, an the latch is provided with achain 24 for l'thdraw ing the latch from the plate. The ovel '20 is partially controlled and is hoisted by means of a chain or cable 25 that runs over' suitable guide'sheaves and over the pulley 19, bein in vertical arrangement from the pulley ownward through the turn-table so that lts position corresponds to the axis of the crane-pivot. The machine includesalso a hoisting-drum .26 operated by a suitable hoisting-engine 27 mounted. on the platformfor'operating and controlling the chain 25, there being a. crane-engine 28 including a drum 29 mounted also on the platform, a cable 30 being connected with the drum and also with the turn-table 5 for turning or swinging the crane about its axis. A boiler 31 on the platform supplies steam for the engines through a pipe 32 connected therewith and havin branches extendin respectively to the hoisting engine and t e crane engine, one branch having a throttle valve 33, and the other branch a similar valve 34 connected therewith. I The engineers position is at 35 on the platform where he can observe the movements of the crane and the shovel, and a pivoted operating or throttle lever 36 is arranged at the engineers position and connected with the throttle valves by means of a rod 37. The lever preferably has an arm 38 thereon extending at a suitable angle thereto. A reverse-lever 39 is' arranged also at the engineers positionand has a reach-rod 40 connected thereto that is connected also to a rocker-arm 41 mounted on a shaft 42 which is suitably connected with the reversing gear of the hoisting engine 27; a, reverse lever'43 being mounted also at the engineers position and aving a nected by a suitable pglchanism with the reversing gear of the 'ne 28. A steam pipe i7 extends from the boiler to the forward portion of the engire house and has a branch .48 connected therewith that is provided with a stop valve 49 within reach of the engineer, and a horizontal pipe 50 is connected with the valve'and hes'; a swiveljoint 51 connected thereto,andcal-ranged at the axis of the crane, a pipe 52 extending from the swivel joint to the steam chest 18 of the through one ipid of the steam chest 18 and is connected to a rocker-arm 54 secured to a rock-shaft 55 supported in the engine frame, a rocker-arm 56 being secured also to one end of the rock-shaft and having :1 connecting rod 57 connected thereto. the connecting r d being connected to a rocker-arm 58 that secured to a rock-shaft 59 mounted on the provided with a hinged bottom 21, a springrane in prox'mity to the axis of the crane pivot. The c trolling connections between the valve stem 53 and the rock-shaft. 59 may obviously wariedl, conform to various structures relhtivelw the crane and the auxiliary engine. pl 5 In carrying ut- -th i bjects of the invention au arm (i0 's secured to the rock-shaft of the crane pivot and has a loop (l1 thereon comprising the end portion of the arm, the loop being preferably oval or elliptical and arranged with the major axis parallel to the rock-shaft- 59, so that. an opening is formed in the arm 60 through which the chain extends. 'A lever 62, is provided which has a pivot hole 63 between its ends, one end portion of the lever having a horizontal guide 64 thereon in which an extension rod 65 is guided to move longitudinally, one end of the rod having an adjusting nut 66 thereon, and a spring 67 is interposed between the nut and the guide G l. The ,posite end portion-of the rod has an opening 68 therein which receives the loop (5].. the opening belngbmfled by a cap (it). so that while the loop inay slide in the opening it may also move pivotally. The opposite end of the lever 62 has a pivothole 70 therein whereby to o crate the lever. A suitable stand 71 is fixe ly supported on the platform 1 in proximity to the turn-table and is provided with a pivot 72 'on which the lever (32 is supported between its ends in approximately horizontal position to maintain thc'extension cnd adjacent to the chain. A suitable stand 73 is supported on the platform 1 in proximity to the engiucens position-and another stand ,74 is supported a suitable distance from the stand'73. the two stands supporting a rock-shaft 75 to which an arm 7 6 is secured, a rod 77 being connected to the arm and also to the end of the lever 62 that has the pivot hole 70 therein. A foot lever 78 is secured toithe rock-shaft 75 adjacent to the stand 73,- the latter having a quadrant 79 thereon with: which a latch '80 mounted auxiliary engine. A valve stem 53 extends" 59 and extends li prizontally toward the axis 35 by mean's of a sprin 91 connecte on the footlevercooperates, the latch being provided with a suitable pushbar 81 adapted 'to be operated b the foot of the engi.

neer. When the foot-lever 78 is in mid- .p0sition the lever 62 and the arm .60 are horizontal and the valve in the auxiliary engine excludes the steam from the engine cylinder, and steam is admitted into the cylinder so as to operate the engine when the foot-lever is moved forward or backward as may'be desired. When the lever 62 moves upward or downward the spring 67 permits the extension rod 65 to move in or out so as to practically lengthen or shorten the lever as required bythe angularity of the connections between the rock-.

shaft 59 and the pivot 72; I

A cylinder 82 is secured to the arm 10 near the shovel and is provided with suit-v 20 able heads, a piston 83 being movable in the cylinder and provided with a. rod 84.- extending through one of the heads, the rod being connected to the chain 24 of the latch 22. The cylinder has an inlet port 85 arranged at one head and an exhaust port 86 at a suitable. distance from the inlet port. A spring 87', is arrangedin the cylinder for pushing the piston toward the inlet port. A suitable controlling valve 88 ,is supported on the jib 8 and a flexible steam pipe 89 is connected therewith and also to the cylinder 82, the controlling valve being provided with an operating arm,90 hichis yieldingly held with the valve in closed (position to the arm and to the crane. A branch pipe 92 is connected with the steam pipe i' and has a stop valve 93 connected therewith in proximity to the engineers station, a pipe 94 40. extending from thevalve to a point near the axisof the cnane.. A pipe 95 is secured to the crane and extends to the controlling "alve 88. A flexible pipeor hose 96 is connected with the pipes 94 and 95 and extends adjacently tothe axis of rotation of the crane, so that the crane may swing in oper .ationwithont fracturing the steam pipes.

A cord 97 isconnected to the operating arm 90 and also to the arm 38 whereby the arm .50 90 is controlled'and also operated when the lever 36 is operated in one direction; The

A-frame supports a horizontal shaft 98 on which is a sheave 99 that. guides thecord 97, the sheave being loose so as to slide along the shaft. The cord is guided also by another sheave 100 that is mounted on the 'ib 8. a

J In practical use the engineer stands at the station on the platform indicated, from which position he may reach. and moveall of the devices above mentioned for control.-

.ling the operations of the engines for lifting the shovel, moving the crane pivotally or for moving the arm of the shovel by means of the auxiliary engine, or for releasing the latch of :the shovel bottom, thus facilitating the.economical operations of the machine. W'hen-the crane is moved pivotally the arm 60is carried partially about the pivotal axis of the crane, as illustrated by broken lines '7 in Fig. 3, the loop 61 sliding in the opening '68. When the auxiliary engine is reversed the loop has a pivotal movement in the rod 65.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed as new is 1. In a steam shovel, the combination with a platform, a crane pivoted on the platform, an engine mounted on the crane, and valve; controlling apparatus forthe engine, of a lever pivotally mounted on the platform and extending toward the axis of the crane-pivot, an arm pivotally mounted on the crane and extending toward the axis of the crane-pivot,

means extendin about the axis of the crane.-

pivot and mova 1y connecting the armi'with the lever, and connections between the. arm

.and the valve-controlling apparatus. 2. In a steam shovel, the combination with an engine mounted on the crane, and valvecontrolling gearing for the engine, of a' lever pivotally, mounted on the platforni'and extending nearly to the axis of the crane-pivot,

an arm pivotally mounted on thecraneand lever pivotally mounted on the platform 10 and having aguide thereon, an extensionrod movable in the guide and having an opening therein, an arni pivotally mounted on the craneand having a loop thereon extending about the axis of the crane-pivot, the loop extending movably through the opening of the extension-rod, and operating connections between the arm and the valvecontrolling apparatus.

4. In a steam shovel, the combination with a platform, an A-frame fixed on the platform, a crane pivoted on the platformya lever pivoted above the platform, a movable shovel-arm on the crane, a shovel on the shovel-arm, a bottom hinged to the shovel, a latch for the bottom, a cylinder secured to the shoveLarm, a piston movable in the cylinder and operatively connected with the latch, and a fluid-conduit connected with, the cylinder, of a controlling-valve mounted on the crane and having an operating-arm, the controlling valve being connected with the fluid-conduit, a spring connected with and moving the operatin arm in one direction, a shaft supported orizontally in the Platform, a t ane pivoted onth plat-firm,

A-frame, a guide sheave rotatably and slid-. ingly mounted on saidshaft, and a cord con nected to the operating-arm and extending over the guide sheave andconnected to the pivoted lever for movingthe operatingarm in the opposite directio 5. In a steam shovelcomprising a platform, a crane pivoted on the platform, a shovel carried by the crane, a chainv for hoistin the shovel extending vertically in the axis of the'crane-pivot, an auxiliary engine mounted on the crane for assisting in controlling the shovel, and valve-controlling apparatus for the engine, the combination of an arm pivot-ally mounted on the crane and having a loop extending about the vertical portion of the chain, the arm being operatively connected wvith the valve-controlling apparatus, and a lever pivotally mounted on the platform and connected loosel with the loop.

6. a steam shovel, the combination with a platform, a crane pivoted on the platform,

an engine mounted on the crane, and valvecontrolling apparatus for the engine, of a rock-shaft mounted-on the platform, means for operating 'the-rock shaft, an arm' secured to the rock-shaft, a lever pivotally mounted on the platform and connected at one end withthe arm, the opposite endof. the lever havin a guide thereon, an extension-rod'movab y mounted in the guide and having an opening in one end thereof, a nut on the opposite end of the extension-rod, a

spring between the guide and the nut, an

7. Ina steam shovel,the combination with a platform, a crane pivoted on the platform, an engine mounted on the crane, valve-com trolling gearing for the engine, a shovel mounted onthe crane, and a chain on the crane connected with-the shovel and extending vertically in the axis of the crane pivot,

of a lever pivotally mounted on the platform I and extending nearly to the said axis, an

arm pivotally mounted on the crane and extending nearly to said axis and havin an opening therein through which said 0 am extends in vertical arrangement, the extremity of the arm being curved and pivotally connected with the lever to slide in con-' 'nection therewith, and connections between the arm and the gearing.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F.- HINKLEY.

' VVit nes ses Orro A. PommR,

WILLIAM H. LINN. 

